The “Iran in Context” series, a collaborative project between the Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP), the British Society for Middle East Studies (BRISMES), and the Italian Society for Middle East Studies (SeSaMO), provides a scholarly examination of the sociopolitical forces shaping contemporary Iran. The inaugural installment, recorded on June 18, 2026, focuses on the intersection of gender dynamics and revolutionary movements, featuring academic perspectives on the country’s recent political and military shifts.
This academic series aims to provide a deeper understanding of the structural and historical underpinnings of recent events in Iran. By bringing together researchers from international institutions, the project seeks to move beyond surface-level reporting to analyze how gender roles and state policies have influenced the current climate of unrest and institutional change.
Academic Perspectives on Gender and Revolution
The first episode of the series centers on the work of two prominent scholars: Manijeh Moradian, an assistant professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Barnard College, and Nazanin Shahrokni, an associate professor of International Studies at Simon Fraser University. Their discussion explores the role of gender in revolutionary movements, drawing on their respective research into Iranian history and social structures.
Manijeh Moradian’s work, including her 2022 book This Flame Within: Iranian Revolutionaries in the United States published by Duke University Press, examines the transnational nature of Iranian political activism. Her recent scholarship, such as her April 2026 article in Meridians titled “Feminist Uprising in Iran and the Politics of Solidarity,” tracks how feminist movements have navigated both domestic repression and international discourse. Moradian’s research often highlights the “decolonial” aspects of diaspora activism, a theme she expanded upon in her October 2025 paper for Iranian Studies, “Decolonial Diasporas: Iranian Feminist Solidarity in Global Context.”
Nazanin Shahrokni provides a parallel analysis focusing on the institutionalization of gender segregation. Her 2020 book, Women in Place: The Politics of Gender Segregation in Iran, published by the University of California Press, documents the physical and ideological partitioning of public spaces in the country. In her more recent writing, including a March 2, 2026, piece in SPECTRE: A Marxist Journal titled “Who Speaks for Iran?–and From Where? Geopolitics, Representation and Solidarity,” Shahrokni interrogates the power dynamics behind who represents the Iranian experience in global media and political forums.
The Collaborative Framework of “Iran in Context”
The “Iran in Context” series represents a formal effort by three major Middle East studies organizations to bridge the gap between academic research and public discourse. By co-producing the series, MERIP, BRISMES, and SeSaMO leverage their respective networks to host conversations that prioritize historical accuracy and theoretical depth over immediate, sensationalist news cycles.
The series is designed to address the “political and military convulsions” that have characterized Iran over the past year. By hosting scholars who have dedicated years to the study of Iranian law, gender, and transnational politics, the organizers intend to provide a resource for students, policymakers, and the general public to better understand the nuances of the region. The project relies on a model of non-commercial information sharing, with the podcast episodes made available across major audio platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
Further Reading and Academic Resources
For those interested in the scholarly foundations of the topics discussed in the first episode, the contributors have highlighted several key texts. These materials offer a broader look at the themes of gender, revolution, and transnational solidarity.
- Manijeh Moradian, This Flame Within: Iranian Revolutionaries in the United States (Duke University Press, 2022).
- Manijeh Moradian, “Feminist Uprising in Iran and the Politics of Solidarity,” Meridians (April 2026).
- Manijeh Moradian, “Decolonial Diasporas: Iranian Feminist Solidarity in Global Context,” Iranian Studies (October 2025).
- Manijeh Moradian, “Embodying Revolution: Situating Iran within Transnational Feminist Solidarities,” Radical History Review (January 2024).
- Nazanin Shahrokni, Women in Place: The Politics of Gender Segregation in Iran (University of California Press, 2020).
- Nazanin Shahrokni, “Who Speaks for Iran?–and From Where? Geopolitics, Representation and Solidarity,” SPECTRE: A Marxist Journal (March 2, 2026).
As the series continues, the organizers plan to release further episodes featuring other scholars to address different facets of the Iranian political landscape. Listeners and readers can stay updated through the official channels of the participating organizations as they announce future dates for the remainder of the “Iran in Context” series. We welcome your thoughts on these academic approaches to current events; please feel free to share your perspectives in the comments section below.